Akhtar ul Iman (12 November 1915 9 March 1996) was a noted Urdu poet and screenwriter in Hindi cinema, who had a major influence on modern Urdu nazm.Akhtar ul-Iman An anthology of modern Urdu poetry, by Rafey Habib. Publisher: Modern Language Association (MLA), 2003. . p. 109.
He won the Filmfare Award for Best Dialogue in 1963 for Dharmputra and 1966 for Waqt. He was awarded the 1962 Sahitya Akademi Award in Urdu, for his Poetry Collection, Yadein (Memories), by Sahitya Akademi, India's National Academy of Letters.
Early life and education Born on 12 November 1915 in Qila Patthargarh, Najibabad, in the Bijnor district of Uttar Pradesh in 1915. He was brought up in an orphanage. He gained his initial education at Bijnor, where he came in contact with poet and scholar Khurshid ul Islam, who taught at Aligarh Muslim University and developed a long association with Ralph Russell. He graduated from the Zakir Husain College at University of Delhi and completed his master's in Urdu degree from Aligarh Muslim University.
Career He first joined All India Radio as a staff artist. Then Iman joined the Filmistan Studio as a dialogue writer in 1945.
He preferred nazm over more popular ghazal as a mean of poetic expression. Akhtar ul Iman's language is "coarse and unpoetic". He uses "coarse" and mundane poetic expressions to make his message effective and realistic.Modern Indian Literature: An Anthology, by K. M. George, various, Sahitya Akademi
He left behind a substantial legacy for new generation of poets to follow which explores new trends and themes in modern Urdu poetry giving a new direction to the modern and contemporary Urdu nazm with emphasis on philosophical humanism.
Works Books • Iss Aabad Kharabe Mein (Urdu)-published by Urdu Academy, Delhi, India. Autobiography of a famous Urdu writer of India.
Poetry He has published eight collections:
Girdaab (1943) Aabjoo (1944–1945) Tareek Sayyara (1946–47) Yaden (1961) Bint-e-Lamhaat (1969) Naya Ahang (1977) Sar-o-Samaan (1982) Zameen Zameen (1983–1990) Kulliyaat-e-Akhter-ul-Iman (2000)
Play Sabrang (1948): a one-verse play.
Translation and compilation by others Zamistan Sard Mehrika (Urdu)- Last Poetic Collection of an unforgettable Urdu poet. Compiled and edited by Sultana Iman and Bedar Bakht. Query of the Road – Selected Poems of Akhtar-ul-Iman with Extensive Commentary by Baidar Bakht
Indian cinema His contribution to Hindi cinema is significant, keeping in mind the number of landmark and hit movies he has contributed as a script writer (dialogue, story and screenplay). His first landmark movie was Kanoon (1960 film), which became a big hit despite the fact that it had no songs or comedy sequences. Other important movies to which he contributed as a script writer were Dharmputra (1961) – for which he received a filmfare award – Gumrah, Waqt, Patther ke Sanam, and Daagh.
The one movie which has his lyrics is Bikhare Moti.
Awards Literary awards 1962: Sahitya Akademi Award – Urdu: Yadein (Poetry) and Numerous other literary awards.
Filmfare Award 1963: Best Dialogue: Dharmputra 1966: Best Dialogue: Waqt
Filmography Vijay (1988) – writer Chor Police (1983) – writer Lahu Pukarega (1980) – director Do Musafir (1978) – writer Chandi Sona (1977) – writer Zameer (1975) – writer 36 Ghante (1974) – writer Roti (1974) – writer Naya Nasha (1973) – writer Bada Kabutar (1973) – writer Daag (1973) – writer Dhund (1973) – writer Joshila (1973) – writer Kunwara Badan (1973) – writer Dastaan (1972) – writer Joroo Ka Ghulam (1972) – writer Aadmi Aur Insaan (1969) – writer Chirag (1969) – writer Ittefaq (1969) – writer Aadmi (1968) – writer Hamraaz (1967) – writer Patthar Ke Sanam (1967) – writer Gaban (1966) – writer Mera Saaya (1966) – writer Phool Aur Patthar (1966) – writer Bhoot Bungla (1965) – writer Waqt (1965) – writer Shabnam (1964) – writer Yaadein (1964) – writer Aaj Aur Kal (1963) – writer Akeli Mat Jaiyo (1963) – writer Gumrah (1963) – writer Neeli Aankhen (1962) – writer Dharmputra (1961) – writer Flat No. 9 (1961) – writer Barood (1960) – writer Kalpana (1960) – writer Kanoon (1960) – writer Nirdosh (1950) – writer Actress (1948) – writer Jharna (1948) – writer
Death and survivors Akhtar ul Iman died on 9 March 1996 in Mumbai at age 80. He also was the father-in-law of actor Amjad Khan.
Further reading Akhtar Ul Iman by Ghulam Rizvi 'gardish'. Sahitya Akademi Publications. .
References
Cited sources
External links
Verses of Akhtarul Iman Nazm of Akhtarul Iman Modern Indian Literature, an Anthology By K. M. George, Sahitya Akademi Akhtar ul Iman - Archived